SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Mobile connectivity has become a critically hot topic due in part to the new generation of consumer electronic devices. Backhaul, the process by which these consumer electronic devices communicate with the content source, represents a lucrative opportunity for for cable MSOs, satellite vendors, and wholesalers, according to NPD In-Stat.
In a new report entitled Last Mile Backhaul: The Essential Element for Successful Mobile Networking, the market research firm predicts that the number of fibre-enabled backhaul macro base stations will approach 1.8 million in 2014.
“For mobile operators the challenge is to match the best backhaul solutions with the needs of their networks. In tailoring the proper backhaul solution, operators have to balance considerations like cost and time of deployment,” said senior analyst Chris Kissel. “At the same time, operators must leverage their existing investments, while being able to scale their networks.
“If the target bandwidth for a current backhaul solution is 100Mbps, five years from now the same operator may need 1Gbps at that site. Therefore, operators seek cost-effective backhaul solutions that can be scaled in the future at a reasonable cost. There is a mosaic of solutions that help mobile operators to meet these goals.”
Recent NPD In-Stat research found the following:
– Cable operators can generate revenue by using all of their bandwidth in their hybrid fiber-coaxial cable. Revenue would be derived from cable TV/data and mobile backhaul;
– China Mobile estimates that 96% of its base stations have fiber-optic access;
– In the U.S., a point-to-point microwave license costs US$1,800 and expires in ten years. Licensees are entitled to 50MHz in the frequency band for which they apply;
– As it is with macrocells, fibre is the preferred backhaul medium for small cells.
